Rush drummer and lyricist Neil Peart wrote this about his first trip away from home. In 1971, at 18, driven by musical ambition and an insatiable desire to travel, explore, and learn about everything, he escaped the narrow world of his small-town Canadian life and flew to England. That first, great trip started an exhilarating new life. (thanks, Mike - Mountlake Terrace, Washington)

This song is referenced in the online game Kingdom of Loathing, where in a shop you can buy a Fly-By-Knight Heladry form. (thanks, Beef - Carlson, Quia, MA)

Comments: 14

Wow, "Born to Run" and "Fly by Night". Two great songs about breaking away. There must have been something in the air in '75.David - Atlanta, Ga

Geddy was only 21 and he was already a magician on the bass. Just listen.Claude - Kingston, Ma

I noticed a striking similarity to this song in the novel "bless me, ultima" when a boy says "they turn to owls and fly at night." I showed my teacher my mp3 player with the song and album picture (giant owl) and said rush must have come across itCritical - Asdf, Wa

Rush needs to put this song back into their live performances. I think that it would be a great opener.Jason - Denver, Co

i am all RUSH even though they been around 24 years more than me im only 13 fly by night isgreat geddys shrieking vocals is so mad awesome also has a sick guitar soloKevin - New York, Nd

Still a great listen and one of the strongest songs from that record. Solid tune.John - Asheville, Nc

I like the guitar in this song, very rambling!!!Geddy's voice is very good in here!!! this song gets stuck in my head all the time, very catchy :DAllie - A Little Ol' Town In, Mi

This song, to me, is about living in a country where if you are not happy where you are you can always change it. In the free world you can "Fly by night away from here, change my life again". "My ship isn't coming and I just can't pretend" is a lyric about how you have to stop fooling yourself and make changes if your life isn't what you think it should be. Mike, IndianaMike - Indianapolis, In

Rob in Council Bluffs, I belive these lyrics were included in the original albums content as an aside,,,,,,,,,,,could be wrong ,been a long time since I have seen my original print of the album........Robert - Schaumburg, Il

The following lyrics were written by Peart, but believed to have never been used:

Airport scurry flurry facesParade of passers byPeople going many placesWith a smile or just a sighWaiting waiting pass the timeAnother cigaretteGet in line - gate thirty-nineThe time is not here yetRob - Council Bluffs, Ia

This song hasn't been performed, live, since the Tour of the Hemispheres (1978-79)...Jesse - L.a., Ca

I Beilieve This Song is About Moving on in Life and Forgetting Things No Longer RequiredDavid - Port Hawkesbury, Canada

Neil's drumming was far more loud and aggressive than John Rutsey's, and that was no more apparent than here. His Keith Moon influence shows, but in the early days Peart had difficulty knowing when not to play, which made his drum parts overly busy at times. There are drum fills in this song which do not mesh well with the rest of the music. With time would come restraint.Kent Lyle - Palo Alto, Ca